If your New Year’s resolution is to be fitter and stronger, local Leasider Eleanor Feetham’s got you covered.
Based in Leaside, Eleanor Feetham, owner of E-Fitness (E-Fitness.ca), offers a variety of morning classes in her space at Bayview and Moore Avenue (inside the Synergy Martial Arts Studio at 416 Moore Ave.)
Classes, which are on the smaller side with an average of eight to 10 participants and a maximum of 15, include: Pilates, Stretch, Body Conditioning, Dance-style Aerobics, and Body Sculpt.
I sat down recently at a café on Bayview with Eleanor to learn more about her business and fitness philosophy.
“My focus is on improving our quality of life one day at a time, mainly through core strengthening,” she told me. “I love it when my clients see the effects themselves of their efforts. One client told me she can now open jars and another is able to reach higher than before she attended classes.”
Retraining and certifying as a fitness professional after starting a family, Eleanor knew she needed a job that worked with her family’s schedule and allowed flexibility, since with two school-age daughters and accompanying activities, life can be busy.
“I wanted to do something that I love but also be home for my young children,” she said.
All classes run from Monday to Friday for 55 minutes, from 9 to 11 a.m. – very mom friendly for those with children coming home for lunch.
As an avid runner, with both New York and Boston Marathons under her belt, Eleanor began as a personal trainer before offering classes. “I prefer the energy of a group class and continued right through the pandemic virtually,” she told me.
There is a real community feeling to the groups, with friendships formed and social gatherings outside of classes. E-Fitness is a welcoming environment for participants, some of whom have come through difficult times, such as cancer treatment.
Eleanor stressed to me the need to be kind to ourselves. “Let’s not beat ourselves up about how we used to look but strengthen our bodies as we age. Let’s focus on feeling strong!”
Yes, please to more positive-aging messages! Not everyone at E-Fitness is a hard body. Our health is not guaranteed after all, and aging is a privilege denied many.
Eleanor’s own future fitness goals include running the Toronto marathon in the fall and competing in an Ironman competition along with her husband. Inspiring!
This article was guest contributed by Susan Poaps.